1.2 Finding and organizing the information you need to answer the question
🔍AP Research Unit 1 Review
1.2 Finding and organizing the information you need to answer the question
🔍 AP Research
continue practicing 1.2
Multiple choice
Formulating Research
Once you have a research question, the next step is finding information that actually helps you answer it. AP Research asks you to move from curiosity to a focused search process: question what you already know, identify what you still need, and organize sources so your evidence can support a defensible argument.
To understand something better, you need to question what you already know, find out what you don't know, and relate it to things you already understand.
We often overlook the biggest source of knowledge we have. No, it's not google (although it's certainly helpful). The largest source of information you have is the head (or brain) on your shoulders!
Personal Experiences
🥳 Think about your question and think about your experiences. Do you carry assumptions with that question? Do you have a cultural context relating to that question? Good research begins by recognizing your personal assumptions, beliefs, and experiences, so you can question them and keep them from biasing your work.
💭 For example, we can go back to the peanut butter and jelly sandwich example. From your personal experience, you may be able to tell they have a high sodium content. We can actually take this further and analyze sodium on productivity in a model organism and extrapolate those results to reflect human understanding. However, it doesn't have to be this scientific!
Image courtesy of GIPHY
Concept Mapping
Try mapping out your research question to visualize your thought process. Attempt to draw, organize, and connect your ideas through this concept mapping. An example is shown below.
Image courtesy of Grand Valley State University
Your research question may challenge or confirm your existing beliefs, understandings, and knowledge. That's the fun of it! This is a chance to truly explore your knowledge and understanding of the world around you.
Remember, you got this. 😁 Happy researching!
Practice Questions for 1.2
1 of 10
A researcher begins investigating whether social media algorithms favor certain political viewpoints. Before collecting data, the researcher believes algorithms are deliberately designed to promote specific ideologies. Which of the following best describes this belief?
A.
A peer-reviewed conclusion
B.
Verified empirical evidence
C.
A research methodology
D.
An assumption about algorithmic bias
Vocabulary
The following words are mentioned explicitly in the AP® course framework for this topic.Term | Definition |
|---|---|
assumption | Underlying beliefs or premises that are taken for granted without proof or verification. |
brainstorming | A strategy for generating and organizing ideas by freely expressing thoughts about a topic without initial judgment or evaluation. |
concept mapping | A visual strategy for organizing and connecting ideas by diagramming relationships between concepts and topics. |
cultural context | The social, cultural, and historical background that shapes how people understand and interpret information and knowledge. |
inquiry | The process of asking questions and investigating a topic in order to confirm, challenge, or develop understanding. |
prewriting | A strategy used before formal writing to explore, organize, and develop ideas about a topic. |
prior knowledge | Existing understanding, information, and experiences that a person already possesses about a topic before beginning new inquiry or research. |
See Fiveable more often in Google
Mark Fiveable as a preferred source and Google is more likely to show you our guides in Top Stories, with a "preferred" badge in AI Mode and AI Overviews.